It was a dark and windy night. The Qian Family residence was deserted.
After the man in black left, Shen Bai turned around. His eyes gleamed as he looked at the main house behind him and walked toward the entrance.
When he reached the door, Shen Bai didn't hesitate. He raised a hand and shoved the main doors open.
As the wooden doors swung open with a creak, Shen Bai saw the scene inside.
The room was pitch-black, but in the scattered moonlight that filtered in, Shen Bai's gaze landed on an object not far away.
In the very center of the main house sat a solitary Buddhist shrine.
The shrine was inlaid with gold and looked incredibly ornate, but inside this lavish, golden shrine sat nothing more than a dilapidated statue.
The statue's facial features were long worn away, but its left hand held a string of Buddha Beads, while its right hand was raised before its chest, palm facing out.
It wore a Kasaya and had nine ordination scars on its head. Judging by its attire and posture alone, it was clearly a Buddha seated upon a Lotus Platform.
Ordinarily, Shen Bai wouldn't have given even a damaged statue of a Buddha a second glance.
But after accidentally catching a glimpse of it while spying earlier, Shen Bai found he couldn't look away.
A wisp of smoke appeared before his eyes, coalescing into lines of text.
[Damaged Buddha Statue]
[Appraisal Progress: 0%]
[A wisp of Evil Qi can quicken the appraisal.]
This item, just like the Lady Sword Dance Painting, was something that could be appraised to extract a Divine Power.
This was the very reason Shen Bai hadn't chased after the man in black.
What was a man in black compared to this damaged Buddha statue?
Shen Bai rubbed his hands together. After confirming no one was around, he unhesitatingly picked up the damaged Buddha statue.
'Now isn't the time to use the Evil Qi.'
He had obtained a wisp of Evil Qi after killing Master Qian just moments ago, which he could use to speed up the process.
But since he was still in the Qian Family residence, Shen Bai decided not to use it immediately, planning to wait until he was back at the pawnshop.
With the matter settled, this trip had yielded not only Evil Qi but also another item to appraise. It was a bountiful harvest indeed.
Carrying the damaged Buddha statue, Shen Bai slipped out the door and quickly vanished into the night.
...
「Shen Family Pawnshop.」
Shen Bai lit an oil lamp and examined the damaged Buddha statue in its glow.
After a moment's thought, Shen Bai used the Evil Qi without hesitation.
[Appraisal Progress: 100%]
As Shen Bai's Evil Qi vanished, the progress bar before his eyes instantly filled to Perfection.
The smoke twisted like a serpent before forming new words.
[Appraisal Complete. Divine Power Acquired: Vajra Fist]
[Vajra Fist Level 1 (Fist Technique +1): 0/100]
A flood of information rushed into his mind, and a spectral image of a Buddha in a Kasaya appeared in his mind's eye.
The Buddha held a string of Buddha Beads, its eyes filled with infinite compassion, as if it were about to bring salvation to all living things.
WHOOSH!
With a soft whoosh, the Buddha clenched its right hand into a fist and threw a straight punch.
The air around it vibrated with Buddhist chants as a Furious Vajra descended from the heavens, seemingly capable of annihilating all evil.
As the information flooded his mind, Shen Bai opened his eyes, having completely mastered the Vajra Fist.
"The Vajra Fist... It transforms you into the Furious Vajra for Exorcising Demons."
Excitement shone in Shen Bai's eyes.
The Vajra Fist's Fist Technique Attribute was just what it sounded like: it gave an additional bonus to the Vajra Fist.
After some thought, Shen Bai decided to practice the Vajra Fist first.
The reason was simple. The Skill Level requirement for the Blood Sword Dance was rather high, and now that he had come into contact with the other side of the world, a sense of urgency had taken root in his heart.
He needed more techniques. The Vajra Fist's initial Skill Level requirement was low, which was exactly what he needed most right now.
'To the back courtyard.'
With that thought, Shen Bai headed to the back courtyard alone.
The back courtyard was spacious—the perfect place to practice his Vajra Fist.
Shen Bai stood in the middle of the courtyard and raised his fists.
The scorching stream of Qi in his body circulated, finally flowing toward his fists.
Following the stances of the Vajra Fist, Shen Bai began practicing in the courtyard.
With every punch he threw, a sense of clarity filled Shen Bai's mind, as if someone were chanting Buddhist Scripture inside his head.
'I don't feel any worldly desires.'
'This Fist Technique carries Buddhist Teachings... it seems very powerful.'
'I'm not going to turn into a Monk, am I?'
The question arose in Shen Bai's mind, but he quickly realized he was overthinking things.
[Vajra Fist +1+1+1...]
As his Vajra Fist experience steadily increased, it soon reached Level 2.
[Vajra Fist Level 2 (Fist Technique +2, Buddha's Light +2): 0/1000]
When his Vajra Fist reached Level 2, the spectral image of the Buddha throwing a punch reappeared in his mind.
Unlike the initial image, this time the Buddha was standing.
Its fists were wreathed in golden Buddha's Light, and the aura of the Vajra Fist had changed from one of profound Buddhist Teachings to one of grim lethality.
Shen Bai could almost see a Windwalker Monk, Exorcising Demons across the mortal realm.
"What a Fist Technique!"
A sharp glint flashed in Shen Bai's eyes.
The flow of Qi within him increased once more, partially refilling his Dantian.
Shen Bai performed the Vajra Fist.
At Level 2, the Vajra Fist was no longer about Buddhist Teachings, but about an unyielding will to flatten all opposition.
A layer of golden light now covered Shen Bai's fists.
This was the Buddha's Light Attribute, allowing his Vajra Fist to inflict additional damage imbued with Buddha's Light.
[Vajra Fist +1+1+1...]
This time, his Skill Level increased more slowly, but the effect it had on Shen Bai was different.
Shen Bai suddenly felt that with every punch came a sense of enlightenment.
'As long as the hells are not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha.'
'Perhaps this is the true spirit of the Vajra Fist—to use my vajra body to obliterate all that is evil.'
The night passed as Shen Bai continued to practice.
...
「The next day.」
When Zhang Chaofeng pushed the door open and saw Shen Bai, he froze.
Shen Bai had dark circles under his eyes and looked as if his qi and blood were severely depleted.
"Shopkeeper, did you go to a brothel last night? Not very friendly of you to go without me! Even though I, Old Zhang, am getting on in years, I still appreciate the young ladies."
Zhang Chaofeng looked at him with an expression that said, 'And you call yourself my friend?'
Even at seventy, a man will still love an eighteen-year-old girl. It's a universal truth.
Shen Bai yawned and tossed him a dozen or so coins. "Old Zhang, go to the breakfast stall and buy plenty to eat. Get extra meat."
Zhang Chaofeng was puzzled, but Shen Bai said nothing more, simply slumping back in his chair and closing his eyes. All he could do was take the money and head out.
Slumped in his chair, Shen Bai thought to himself, 'These Divine Powers really take a lot out of you.'
In mid-air, words formed from smoke appeared.
[Vajra Fist Level 2 (Fist Technique +2, Buddha's Light +2): 1000/1000]
[Qualitative Change available. Requires one wisp of Evil Qi.]
Shen Bai hadn't slept a wink all night.
Although he had a flow of Qi in his Dantian, each use of the Vajra Fist consumed it, and now Shen Bai was quite exhausted.
His qi and blood were also heavily depleted; he would need to eat a lot and get some rest to recover.
'After I eat, I'll sleep for an hour.'
'The demand for Evil Qi is getting a little high.'
Shen Bai closed his eyes and thought.